Table 2 Characterization of three dragon fruit (Hylocereus) species with 26 qualitative traits of cladode, flower and fruit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Accession/descriptors | H. undatus | H. costariscensis | H. megalanthus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DGF 1 | DGF 2 | DGF 4 | DGF 3 | |
Cladode | ||||
Margin ribs of cladode | Convex | Convex | Convex | Concave |
Cladode waxiness | Weak | Weak | Strong white wax | Light waxy |
Young cladode colour | Light reddish | Light reddish | Light reddish | Light reddish |
Flower | ||||
Flower bud shape | Elliptic | Ovate | Elliptic | Elliptic |
Shape of apex | Rounded | Acute | Rounded | Rounded |
Flower bud main colour | Yellowish green | Yellowish red | Greenish purple | Yellow with pink tinge |
Flower pericarpel: reddish colour intensity of bracts | Green with purple edge | Green with dark red edge | Green with dark pink edge | Dark Green with light pink edge |
Sepal pattern | Edged | Edged | Edged | Edged |
Shape of bracts | Ovate | Ovate | Ovate | Ovate |
Flower colour of petals | Milky white | Milky white | Milky white | Milky white |
Flower colour of sepals | Light green | Light green | Light green | Green |
Flower colour pattern of sepals | Greenish with purple edge | Lemon yellow | Greenish with purple edge | Greenish yellow |
Flower colour of stigma lobe | Creamish green | Cream | Cream | Creamish green |
Flower colour of ring at base of reproductive organs | Lemon yellow with purple edge | Lemon yellow with dark red edge | Lemon yellow with red edge | Greenish yellow with pink edge |
Month of bud initiation | April | March | May | May |
Time of anthesis | 11.00 PM | 11.00 PM | 11.30 PM | 10.30 PM |
Duration of anthesis | 4–6 h | 4–6 h | 4–6 h | 4–6 h |
Fruit | ||||
Fruit shape | Moderately elongated | Medium elongated | Moderately rounded | Elongated |
Fruit width | Narrow | Broad | Medium | Narrow |
Position towards the peel | Slightly held out | Strongly held out | Held towards the peel | Slightly held out |
Colour of pulp | White | Pink | Dark Purple | White |
Colour of peel | Pinkish green | Pinkish Red | Pink | Yellow |
Juiciness of flesh | Medium | High | Medium | High |
Seed size | Small | Medium | Medium | Large |
No. of seeds fruit−1 | Many | Many | Many | Medium |
Fruiting season | May to Oct | Apr to Nov | Jun to Sept | Jul to Sept |
